The Alabama football team wanted to try something different on Saturday. With Kadyn Proctor out with a shoulder injury, the Crimson Tide used a familiar face at left tackle.
Instead of returning Elijah Pritchett to the starting lineup, UA moved regular left guard Tyler Booker to the outside. UA offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic admitted the Tide had considered this move earlier in the week.
“We have all kinds of ideas,” Kapilovic said Wednesday. “And Booker has played every position since I’ve been here. He played center in the summer, tackle in the spring. Anything is possible, right? You just look and evaluate who the best guys are? Who are the guys who can do it? And then you have them ready to go.”
Booker is one of Alabama’s captains this season and the leader of the Crimson Tide’s offensive line. UA released a photo from practice earlier this week showing Booker at left tackle and Geno VanDeMark at left guard.
When the Crimson Tide took to the field for the first series of the game against South Florida on Saturday, Booker was actually the left tackle and VanDeMark was the guard.
Proctor was injured during warmups before the Crimson Tide’s 63-0 win over Western Kentucky. Pritchett started in his place in that game.
Proctor appeared on the field in uniform during pregame warmups. He did not appear to be wearing gloves or a wristband.
When the Crimson Tide left for the actual game, Proctor was in civilian clothes.
The game between Alabama and South Florida is scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m. CT. It will be broadcast on ESPN.
